News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

The Magnolia Farmers Market will open Saturday, June 1, in the heart of the Magnolia Village. The Magnolia Farmers Market is a great place to meet your neighbors and friends, and meet the Washington State farmers growing healthy delicious food for your family!

On opening day, our farmers’ tables will be piled high with greens, cherries, rhubarb, beautiful bouquets, asparagus, sheep, cow, and goat cheeses, fresh eggs, and pastured meats. Vendors will also have baked goods, delicious prepared foods, and much more.

The Magnolia Farmers Market takes place every Saturday 10 am – 2 pm, starting June 1 at West McGraw Street at 33rd Ave West, in the heart of the Magnolia Village, through the end of September. The Magnolia Farmers Market accepts SNAP, as well as WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons.

This season the Magnolia Farmers Market will be supported by the Magnolia Community and Metropolitan Market. The Magnolia Farmers Market is operated by the Neighborhood Farmers Markets, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening Washington’s small family farms.

About The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance: The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to supporting and strengthening Washington’s small family farm businesses by creating and operating vibrant, successful neighborhood farmers markets. The NFMA organizes seven food and farm-focused farmers markets in Seattle: University District, West Seattle, Broadway, Columbia City, Phinney, Lake City and Magnolia. NFMA is a member of the Washington State Farmers Market Association and national Farmers Market Coalition and has been a leader in ensuring equal access to local, healthy food by promoting EBT at its markets since 1995. Learn more at: http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.

The Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA) offers markets in Ballard, Madrona, and Wallingford. With a variety of local produce and foods, the SFMA markets mission is to support and strengthen Washington’s small farms and farming families, as well as the communities they serve.

The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance has launched a new incentive program at Seattle’s year-round farmers markets in the University District and West Seattle.

Collect at least 6 passport stamps by April 7th, 2013 to be entered into a drawing for gift certificates from Elliott Bay Brewery, Seattle Farmers Markets, Chaco Canyon, and more. Passports and passport stamps can be collected from the information booth at either market or at participating local businesses, including Elliott Bay Brewery, Husky Deli, Bakery Nouveau, and Chaco Canyon Cafe in both West Seattle and University District.

Odds of winning are great, thanks to the generosity of Seattle local business partners!

About The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance: The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to supporting and strengthening Washington’s small family farm businesses by creating and operating vibrant, successful neighborhood farmers markets. The NFMA organizes seven food and farm-focused farmers markets in Seattle: University District, West Seattle, Broadway, Columbia City, Phinney, Lake City and Magnolia. NFMA is a member of the Washington State Farmers Market Association and national Farmers Market Coalition and has been a leader in ensuring equal access to local, healthy food by promoting EBT at its markets since 1995. Learn more at: http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org, visit us on Facebook andTwitter.

The Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA) also offers markets in Ballard, Madrona, and Wallingford. With a variety of local produce and foods, the SFMA markets mission is to support and strengthen Washington’s small farms and farming families, as well as the communities they serve.

The Not Yet Foundation shares the NFMA’s passion for preserving our local farmland as well as building healthy communities and has a special interest in supporting senior services.

The City of Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment is strengthening equal access to local and healthy foods with the Fresh Bucks pilot program. The program, a partnership with the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFMA), will double the value of purchases made with SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards at select Farmers Markets starting Wednesday, August 1, 2012, through Monday, October 1, 2012. All EBT cardholders will receive $10 in Fresh Bucks per day for the purchase of fruits and vegetables when they purchase a minimum of $10 with their EBT card. The following Farmer’s Markets are participating in the program:

Funding for the Fresh Bucks pilot program is provided by JP Morgan Chase, the Seattle Foundation, and the WSDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

“Everyone in Seattle deserves access to healthy, fresh, affordable food,” said Seattle Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith. “Fresh Bucks increases the purchasing power of low-income Seattle residents while introducing new customers to the small and mid-size farmers who sell at our farmers markets.”

The cost of fruits and vegetables has been identified as a barrier to consuming recommended amounts of healthy food for low-income communities. The Fresh Bucks program addresses this barrier as well as generates economic stimulus by keeping federal nutrition benefit funds within local and regional communities. A study by Moody’s Economy showed that an increase of SNAP/Food Stamp benefits by $1 creates a “ripple effect through the economy,” resulting in $1.73 in economic stimulus.

“Seattle residents have been able use their EBT at Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance markets since 1995,” said Chris Curtis, executive director of the NFMA. “Now, with the Fresh Bucks bonus program, people have a greater opportunity and incentive to use their benefits to purchase healthy produce.”

This weekend if you’re looking for that fruit you have been waiting for all season, it might be best to take a look at your local farmer’s market before making the trip to your neighborhood grocery store.

Raspberries, apriums (a mix of apricots and plums), and apricots are just some of the fruits that can be found at the various markets around the city. Apriums however, are only available at the University District Farmers Market, West Seattle Farmers Market, Broadway Farmers Market, and Columbia City Farmers Market. A variety of Williamette, Black Cap raspberries are also available only at the University District Farmers Market.

The Neighborhood Farmers Market Association (NFMA) offers markets in the U-District, West Seattle, Broadway, Columbia City, Phinney, Lake City, and Magnolia. With many great food choices, all of the NFMA farmers markets are sure to offer that one item to make your meal stand out from the rest.

The Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA) also offers markets in Ballard, Interbay, Madrona, and Wallingford. With a variety of local produce and foods, the SFMA markets mission is to support and strengthen Washington’s small farms and farming families, as well as the communities they serve.

Farmer’s Markets have quickly become a Seattle staple and this upcoming week will be no exception with the addition of two more markets. Grab your reusable shopping bags and spend your lunch hour at the City Hall Plaza every Tuesday from June 19 through September 25 at this year’s Pike Place Farmers Market Express from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., located at the Seattle City Hall Plaza (600 Fourth Avenue).

Also, don’t miss the newly opened Lake City Farmers Market with all your favorite farmers returning. Now is the time for cherries, strawberries, snap peas, salad greens, tomatoes, and more!

If you are looking for farmer’s markets in your neighborhood, also check out the Neighborhood Farmers Market Association (NFMA) and Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA).

The Neighborhood Farmers Market Association (NFMA) offers markets in the U-District, West Seattle, Broadway, Columbia City, Phinney, Lake City, and Magnolia. With many great food choices, all of the NFMA farmers markets are sure to offer that one item to make your meal stand out from the rest.

The Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA) also offers markets in Ballard, Interbay, Madrona, and Wallingford. With a variety of local produce and foods, the SFMA markets mission is to support and strengthen Washington’s small farms and farming families, as well as the communities they serve.

The Broadway Farmers Market opens for the 2012 season on April 22 – which is Earth Day round the world.

Opening day will feature a cornucopia of spring greens, flowers, edible plant starts for your garden or patio, early vegetables, gourmet cheeses, fresh eggs, wild-caught salmon, pastured meats – and some delicious prepared foods. Over 40 local farmers and artisan food vendors will sell at the market throughout the season. The market is extended through winter holidays as well, enabling shoppers to buy local ingredients for seasonal celebrations up through December 23.

The Broadway Farmers Market offers a fabulous selection of fresh, seasonal and locally-grown produce direct from farms around Puget Sound and Eastern Washington. Everything at the farmers market is grown or produced in Washington State by local, sustainable farms and by local food businesses. Many of the items found at the farmers markets are unavailable anywhere else, since small family farms often grow unique or unusual varieties that regular grocery stores don’t carry.

New Vendors This Year

Dog Mountain Farm will be selling their great selection of poultry, including chicken, duck, guinea fowl, and fresh eggs from ducks, chickens and geese. They’ll also have rabbit, goose and turkey in November and December for the holiday season.

Gaia’s Natural Goods is a Snohomish County farm that raises a wonderful selection of herbs and heirloom vegetables, as well as making their own pickled beets and other farm-sourced foods.

The Broadway Farmers Market takes place every Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm, from April 22 through December 23 on the corner of Broadway Ave E & E Pine – outdoors on the SCCC campus. The Market accepts EBT/Quest cards (food stamps), as well as WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons.

The Broadway Farmers Market is operated by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening Washington’s small family farms. You can find information about all seven Neighborhood Farmers Markets at www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.

Are you a Seattleite who loves farmers markets? With these year-round markets you can enjoy the fresh produce you love all year long!

The Neighborhood Farmers Market Association (NFMA) offers two year-round markets in the U-District and West Seattle. With many great food choices, both the U-District and West Seattle farmers markets are sure to offer that one item to make your meal stand out from the rest. The U-District market offers a plethora of other happenings that take place while you shop; live music, cooking demos, and other events can be found here on their events page. The West Seattle market also offers live music, activities for the kids to do while you do some shopping, and gardening and composting help during the summer months.

The Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA) also offers a year-round market in Ballard. With a variety of local produce and foods, the Ballard farmers market is open every Sunday rain, shine, or snow. This market also has performers, but they come on their own accord and are not hired by the market. For those who wish to perform, check out the information desk at the market.

For those waiting for the markets in your own neighborhood to resume for the season, there are plenty of markets opening in May. You can find information about the NFMA markets upcoming spring openings here and the SFMA upcoming spring openings here.

Support your local farmers at these locations:

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
Saturdays, 9am – 2pm
Year-round
Corner of 50th and University Way NE

The NFMA is a community-based, 501c3 non-profit organization that operates seven farmer/food only markets in Seattle neighborhoods. The NFMA’s mission is to support and strengthen Washington’s small farms and farming families, as well as the communities they serve.

The SFMA is a Washington state registered non-profit operating European-style farmers markets in neighborhoods throughout Seattle.

East side and west side farmers were dealt blows by the late, cold spring and early summer chill. Crops were an unprecedented 3-6 weeks late, putting farmers in a tough position to make up for early losses.

Fortunately, it’s the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFMA) mission to provide support for local farms and farmers. The NFMA is extending the market season by two weeks at the Lake City, Phinney, and Magnolia Farmers Markets.

The Lake City Farmers Market will close on Thursday, October 20th

The Phinney Market will close on Friday, October 21st

The Magnolia Market will close on Saturday, October 22

Typically, markets close the first week of October.

The NFMA has surveyed and discussed the decision with market farmers, shoppers and board members. Chris Curtis, NFMA Director, explains, “We are hoping this extra effort will help farmers regain some of what was lost earlier in the season. The markets are finally bountiful and this added sales opportunity should really help farmers out.”

As an added incentive for shoppers, the NFMA will be offering a $10 bonus to EBT (food stamp) customers who redeem benefits at those markets during the last two weeks.

The NFMA provides much needed help to local farmers all year long through its Good Farmer Fund, an emergency relief fund for farmers who have lost business due to bad weather, flooding and personal hardship. These relief programs are supported by the NFMA’s annual fundraising event, An Incredible Feast, which takes place this year on October 9th at Swanson’s Nursery.

Come and get your non-chemical produce straight from the farm. Selling at a price everyone can afford. There is cabbage, collard, mustard and turnip greens, kale, lettuce, and onions, to name a few. You won’t be disspointed. Clean Greens Market will be open again this year every Friday from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.

Interested in non-produce vending? Call 206-324-3114 for information on vending

Clean Greens is a small nonprofit organization, created in 2007. We are owned and operated by residents of Seattle’s Central District. Our mission is to decrease the incidence of disease in our communities by increasing residents’ access to healthy, pesticide-free produce at very affordable prices. We are committed to delivering clean produce to all people in our communities.

Farmers markets in our neighborhood business districts provide access to fresh fruit and produce, as well as serve as community gathering places. Markets increase the foot traffic in a business district, which often results in increased sales for local retailers and restaurants. OED supports our local farmers markets as part of our neighborhood business district work.

Two Neighborhoods highlights:The Broadway Farmers Market on Capitol Hill opened on Mother’s Day, May 8, at its new location on the campus of Seattle Central College. The hours of operation will be from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Sundays only. This season the market has more vendors, new farmers, all your favorite farmers from past seasons, new artisan cheeses and yummy street foods to-go.

The Wallingford Farmers market will open at its new location at Meridian Playfield at the Good Shepherd Center on June 1. The hours of operation will be from 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays only.